Golf putting practice target

ABSTRACT

A putting aide device that can be used with or without an existing golf cup or hole and has a perimeter lip for nesting on the surface edge of the hole or cup. Without the use of a hole, the device can be placed on a practice green surface of grass or a carpet or any other substitute surface for putting practices. The device has an elevated circular body with a lateral opening in a side thereof that allows a limited ball entry to itself or to the hole beneath (when used). The device includes a tuning fork feature that is struck by a properly delivered golf ball. When struck, the fork emits a sound dependent on the ball&#39;s aim, force and/or contact. This way, the golfer receives visual and audible feedback as to the quality and effectiveness of the putting stroke.

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of the ProvisionalApplication having an application No. 61/009,837 and a filing date ofJan. 03, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of golf is popular the world over. To improve overall scores,many golfers practice to advance their putting skills. Quite a fewpractice devices exist to improve a golfer's accuracy.

There are devices that require the use of an existing golf hole, such asare present on practice greens. Theses devices provide means forreducing the golf hole size, making a golf ball entry more difficult.Reference is made, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,698 to Troianoand U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,559 to Plopper.

Some devices do not adapt well to an existing golf hole, but provide asubstitute target for practice on various surfaces, indoor or outdoor.Reference is being made, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,545 toSchindler, U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,919 to Selton and U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,240to Daley.

Other devices are more elaborate and require multiple components,adjustable features, electrical components and they are cumbersome withregard to their size and materials. For example, reference is made toU.S. Pat. No. 3,659,856 to Fatur, U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,492 to Anderson,U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,873 to Nunes and U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,113 to Manninget al.

Existing devices require the use of golf holes and those not used withexisting golf holes rely on visual feedback for evaluating the ball'sdirection and speed once a golfer commences a putting stroke.

However, there are problems with the putting practice devices that existtoday. Some require the use of an existing green and golf hole. Some areintended for use with any golf hole. Some are not intended for use withany golf hole. Other devices are intended for indoor use only. Some areelaborate, cumbersome and costly. All of the known devices rely onvisual feedback for an evaluation of the golfer's performance. Theinventive concept described below offers important advantages over theprior art devices mentioned above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention at hand relates to an improved portable putting trainingaid. The simple one-piece device provides the golfer with feedback in anaffordable, adaptable and more satisfying manner. The golfer canpractice with or without a hole, on grass or other surfaces, indoor oroutside and receive both a visual and audible evaluation of theirputting skills.

The inventive device can be sized to fit within an existing golf holeand an upper member is shaped to provide a reduced opening for a golfball entry. There is a lower member with a level bottom surface forplacement on grass carpeting or other surfaces without the need for anygolf hole in the ground. However, the lower member is so shaped that itcan be fitted within the top of a golf hole if one so desires. The uppersurface of the top member includes a recessed circular surface tosimulate the normal target shape of a hole.

A central element of the device is shaped like a tuning fork andproduces an audible response when struck by the golf ball. Upon ballcontact, emitted tones of the device imply levels of ball speed andaccuracy, whether used on a practice green or other surfaces with orwithout a hole.

It is now clear that the golfer gains visual and audible feedback whenpracticing the art of putting. The device reduces the inclination ofhead movements that are unfavorable for putting strokes. Overallpractice becomes more pleasurable with an audible reward enhancement.The device provides a more difficult target than a normal hole in theground. The device has a an elevated circular body with a lateralopening that allows limited ball entry to itself or to the hole beneath(when used). As mentioned above, the device includes a tuning fork thatis struck by a properly delivered golf ball. When struck, the fork emitsa sound dependent on the balls aim, force and contact. This way thegolfer receives a visual or audible feedback as to the quality andeffectiveness of the putting stroke.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the practice target including the green,the device, the golf club and the golf ball;

FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of the practice target;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of the practice target;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the tuning fork;

FIG. 5 is a direct top view of the practice target;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the practice target;

FIG. 7 is a direct bottom view of the practice target;

FIG. 8 is a cross section through the practice target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the practice target as it is located ona ground. As mentioned above, the ground can be any surface indoors oroutdoors. Indoors, it can be any flat surface, preferably a carpethaving some pile. This way, the target will stay stationary when hit bya traveling golf ball. However, any surface will lend itself to thepracticing golfer. A surface in the outdoors can be any grassy surfaceor the surface in a parking lot or a sidewalk. If a golf hole ispresent, it is preferred that the target be set on top of the golf holebecause that is where the eventual competition will take place. Thepractice target 1 is placed on a simulated green. The target 1 has anupper ring type protrusion 2 thereon which makes it easier to see thetarget from a distance. As can be seen from FIG. 1 the target 1 has alateral and rounded opening therein, generally designated as 3. A tuningfork is placed in the middle of the lateral opening. The tuning forkconsists of two tines 4 and 4 a which is attached to a side wall 5 ofthe lateral opening 3. The underside or bottom of the target 1 has adownwardly extending protrusion 6 thereon which follows the contour ofthe upper protrusion ring 2 on top of the target 1. The dimension ofthis lower protrusion ring 6 is such that it will fit into the openingof a golf cup or a hole in the ground and be held stationary therein. Agolf ball B is shown in FIG. 1 with an arrow indicating the approach ofthe ball B toward the tuning fork 4. The golf Club C indicates that astrokes has commenced to propel the ball B toward the tuning fork 4.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate various views of the practice target. The samereference characters have been applied to the various elements as wereapplied to FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5-8, again, are various views of the practice target, again withthe same reference characters having been applied and the various viewsare self-explanatory.

1. A golf putting practice device comprising: a substantially flatmember to be placed on a putting surface having on one side thereon alateral opening of a size to allow a golf ball to enter therein, amember located in said opening to make contact with a golf ball enteringsaid opening, said member located in said opening is a rigid andstationary member and having means thereon for creating an audible soundwhen hit by said ball.
 2. The practice device of claim 1 including aprotruding element located on a bottom of said practicing device, saidmember is sized to overly a golf hole in the ground.
 3. (canceled) 4.The practice device of claim 4, wherein said member in said lateralopening is in a shape of a tuning fork.
 5. The practice device of claim4, wherein said tuning fork consists of two independent tines.